Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 16

16. 4th. First Harvest (2)

As usual, Lee Dae-soo finished his shower and meal after completing his weight training under the guidance of his personal trainer. He then went up to his study to read the newspaper.

“I wonder which bastard will be barking nonsense today…”

Lee Dae-soo, sipping his tea while looking through the newspaper, received a call that came in early in the morning.

“Who is this?”

[It’s Jung-hyun, *hyungnim* (older brother/respected elder).]

Chairman Chae Jung-hyun of Saekyung Group sounded unusually curt, but Lee Dae-soo greeted him as warmly as usual.

“Ah, Chairman Chae? What brings you here so early?”

[Could you please stop raising the stock price of Korea Mobile Telecom? You know how much effort I’m putting into this, don’t you?]

Lee Dae-soo blinked in bewilderment at Chae Jung-hyun’s plaintive question. Soon, a long, deep furrow formed on his forehead.

“I was the one who pushed for you to take over Korea Mobile Telecom during the Federation of Korean Industries meeting! Have you forgotten that already, just because you’re turning sixty soon?”

Lee Dae-soo scolded into the receiver with a mix of annoyance.

He didn’t like controlling the company with a 23 percent stake, but he had sided with Saekyung Group to pretend to be affected by the real-name financial system [a system requiring financial transactions to be conducted under real names to prevent tax evasion and corruption], all thanks to his decades-long friendship with Chae Jung-hyun.

How could Hae-dong be seen as so easy to take advantage of that he would receive such a call? Even if it was effective, Lee Dae-soo couldn’t hide his displeasure.

As Lee Dae-soo’s rough breathing subsided, Chae Jung-hyun’s softened voice was heard.

[I know, *hyungnim*. But… your eldest grandson keeps buying up the stock, so I had to ask.]

“What?”

Lee Dae-soo’s eyes widened. His eldest grandson was buying up Korea Mobile Telecom stock?

Lee Dae-soo only knew that Lee Sung-min had joined hands with Seon Hae-cheol and was moving money with Triumph Capital. But if the chairman of Saekyung Group was calling to complain, it seemed like it wasn’t a small amount.

[If he was just trying to make some pocket money, I would have turned a blind eye, but the volume is 410,000 shares. If he gets just 10,000 more shares, his stake will be 5 percent… Didn’t you order him to do this, *hyungnim*?]

“I, is that true?”

Lee Dae-soo’s voice trembled.

410,000 shares would be close to 100 billion won [approximately $75 million USD] at the current stock price. According to what he heard from Go Seung-ju, after taking out the money that was taken overseas through Seon Hae-cheol, there was only 20 billion won left. When and how did he gather that volume?

[What? You didn’t know either, *hyungnim*?]

“I’m hearing this for the first time from you, Jung-hyun. This isn’t nonsense, is it?”

He admitted the truth since he didn’t know about it, but Lee Dae-soo was already figuring out how to use this situation to his advantage. Unaware of Lee Dae-soo’s thoughts, Chae Jung-hyun’s sigh was heard from the receiver.

[Oh dear… Please, *hyungnim*. Can’t you tell Sung-min to dump it now? If the stock price keeps rising like this, the acquisition price will be…]

Lee Dae-soo firmly cut off Chae Jung-hyun’s pitiful voice.

“I’m sorry.”

[*Hyungnim*!]

“The real-name financial system hit me hard, and I don’t even have enough to pass on to my children. Am I, as a grandfather, supposed to break the rice bowl [livelihood] of my grandson who lost his parents early? I helped you grow your son’s rice bowl, didn’t I?”

He was angry, but this was an opportunity for Lee Dae-soo. Wasn’t this a chance to solidify the act that he was a toothless tiger as a fact? He had been anxious that others would notice his act, so he couldn’t miss the opportunity his eldest grandson had created.

“You owe me the equivalent of 200 billion won at today’s value from the 8.3 private loan freeze [a government measure in 1972 to curb private lending and stimulate the formal financial sector]. I lent money to *hyungnim* Byungho, *hyungnim* Jin-ho, and others, but I didn’t want to seem petty, so I kept it buried. Do I have to bring it up again myself?”

There wasn’t a single *chaebol* [large South Korean business conglomerate] in this country who hadn’t used Lee Dae-soo’s money, and there were plenty of thieves who had stabbed him in the back during the 8.3 private loan freeze. They apologized later, but Chae Jung-hyun had no excuse since he had been borrowing Lee Dae-soo’s money since he acquired the textile company Lee Dae-soo used to work for.

[…I’m sorry, *hyungnim*.]

As Chae Jung-hyun apologized in a low voice, the corners of Lee Dae-soo’s lips were reaching his ears. He had revealed the old story, even sacrificing his pride for the first time, so the lie that he was broke would be solidified as a fact.

“That’s enough. I’m not satisfied, but I was compensated with the establishment permit for Hae-dong Merchant Bank and Hae-dong Corporation’s unlisted status.”

[Yes… I need to call Chairman Shinseong Jang as well, so let’s meet next time and have a cup of tea.]

“Did that guy sprinkle red pepper powder on your table too? Like *hyungnim* Byungho’s son, tsk tsk.”

He thought that he was just like Jang Byung-ho’s eldest son, who had taken the most money along with Taehyun Group’s Myung Jin-ho during the 8.3 private loan freeze and even celebrated with other group chairmen, but Lee Dae-soo heard an unexpected answer.

[That friend’s eldest daughter holds about 100,000 shares. I heard from Commissioner Oh of the National Tax Service that Chairman Jang borrowed the money from her after receiving a promissory note.]

“Is that certain?”

Lee Dae-soo’s eyebrows twitched. His face even hardened, looking serious.

[Yes. Is there anything bothering you?]

“No. Come by next time, and let’s have a Golden Tips tea.”

[Yes, then…]

Lee Dae-soo, who was about to hang up, put the receiver back to his cheek.

“Ah! Keep this a secret from the others. We can’t have strange rumors spreading. Please.”

[I understand, *hyungnim*.]

After hearing the answer, Lee Dae-soo put down the receiver and pulled out a desk drawer.

“Hmm…”

Lee Dae-soo, humming to himself, looked at the yellowed envelope in the drawer, which had the fingerprints of his dead eldest son and Jang Ho-gun, one each. His hardened face held complex emotions.

“I feel sorry for Sung-min too, and it’s not that I don’t like that child Ha-yeon…”

Lee Dae-soo couldn’t just send his eldest grandson into the wolf den that was the Jang family. That’s why he considered the envelope he was looking at as a burden to be taken to the grave.

He closed the drawer again and picked up the receiver.

“It’s me, Seung-ju.”

Since he couldn’t directly intervene himself, the only person he could put forward was Go Seung-ju, who was like his eldest son.

***

Having been summoned by Go Seung-ju, I went to the Hae-dong Group headquarters by car with Park Tae-jin. Graduation was just around the corner, and we were supposed to talk about my future career, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off.

“Hello, Chief.”

“Welcome. It feels like you just entered school, but you’re already graduating… Time flies, haha.”

“It’s been quite eventful. Falling to the bottom and rising again… The world is unpredictable, it seems.”

Smiling as I recalled the reason I was able to rise again, the unspeakable reason, I sat down with Park Tae-jin and enjoyed the heavy acidity of the Kenya AA drip coffee that Go Seung-ju had given us.

“I heard from CEO Cho that you moved the remaining cash to a brokerage firm… I’m curious which stocks you invested in.”

“What’s this about?”

I felt a pang of guilt at Go Seung-ju’s sudden question after putting down his teacup. The overseas investment was disguised as tuition, but in my past life, I had avoided stock investments during this time, so the questions I would receive were obvious.

“Chairman Chae of Saekyung Group told the Chairman about you.”

“Did he say the stock price rose because of me? Chairman Chae, did he?”

Not that I hadn’t expected it, but I calmly asked back, and Go Seung-ju nodded. Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem too worried.

“The Chairman pushed Chairman Chae during the Federation of Korean Industries meeting to cover up the real-name financial system. But you bought up the stock, so the stock price rose, so Chairman Chae must have been taken aback.”

“I guess so. If I had only made some pocket money, it would have been fine, but it must have seemed like I was deliberately going after it… I’m sorry, Chief.”

As I lowered my head, sensing the atmosphere, Go Seung-ju patted me reassuringly.

“It’s not like you knew about it. There’s no need to be sorry. Rather, it’s easier to erase traces of slush funds and private loans thanks to you, so it’s a good thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“This morning, the Chairman told Chairman Chae…”

I opened my mouth after hearing the story that my grandfather and Chae Jung-hyun had shared from Go Seung-ju.

“…So that’s what happened.”

He had sublimated the lie that our family was broke into a fact in the short time it took to exchange a phone call… My grandfather’s quick wit was the best.

“It’s not something that fits the Chairman’s personality or management philosophy, so it wouldn’t have worked out. There’s no need to feel guilty, Sung-min.”

“Still, today’s story is interesting. To think that such a story was hidden…”

“It was a time when soldiers ruled. We were allowed to establish Hae-dong Merchant Bank with the private loan funds that were tied up at that time, and since Mulsan and Jonggeum avoided listing, there were no external shareholders, so we were able to pass them on safely.”

The 8.3 private loan freeze and the enactment of the Corporate Disclosure Promotion Act were a blessing in disguise for our family, which started as a wealthy family in Jeolla-do.

As a result, Hae-dong Corporation, the mother company and the foundation of the Hae-dong Group, and Hae-dong Merchant Bank, the group’s bank, are not large in scale, but 90 percent is held by our family members and 10 percent by current and former key executives.

Not only that.

Even the four listed affiliates have 51 percent of the shares held by our family members and Hae-dong Corporation alone, and if we add the shares of employees, it’s close to 70 percent. I didn’t envy the other groups that reluctantly created cross-shareholdings.

In addition, we hardly have any money borrowed from outside. If we renew the atmosphere and start a business in the new year, we can smoothly overcome the suspicion of connections with the private loan market.

“I hope next year comes quickly. I’m curious what my grandfather will say at the New Year’s ceremony.”

“He’ll probably declare the second founding… There’s one more thing to talk about.”

Looking at Go Seung-ju’s face, it seemed like the superficial talk was over.

“Is it about me?”

“It’s not about you, but Chairman Chae said that there’s one more shareholder who stands out in Korea Mobile Telecom.”

A cold feeling spread down my spine. A shareholder who stands out… Could it be?

“Department Head Jang Ha-yeon of Korea Hotel has 100,000 shares, Chairman Chae told me. If it’s the same person I saw at the alumni meeting, I thought she wasn’t interested in stocks…”

The suspicion I felt in Go Seung-ju’s eyes as he looked at me was reasonable. Was this something that was done by bringing in Jang Ha-yeon?

But I couldn’t reveal it yet.

If my grandfather, who hated Jang Ho-gun and Shinseong Group, found out about this, everything would fall apart. I couldn’t let Go Seung-ju, who was like a son to my grandfather and his closest aide, find out either, so I opened my mouth with an indifferent expression.

“Really? It’s surprising that *nuna* (older sister/respected female elder) bought those stocks.”

“I know, right? I thought she was only focused on work… Blood is thicker than water, it seems.”

The Kenya AA, which had given me a rich flavor just a moment ago, was now giving me no stimulation on my tongue.

***

Meanwhile, Jang Ho-gun, who was promoting the merger of Central Square, which had the development rights for Gangnam Terminal, was also receiving a call from Chae Jung-hyun.

“Chairman Chae, I didn’t know my child had invested in Korea Mobile Telecom. I just lent her the money because she said she was going to invest in a good place.”

[But why isn’t there a Shinseong Securities account, Chairman Jang?]

“Well, I didn’t want to cause any trouble. There’s no point in being exposed to those reporters, is there?”

Jang Ho-gun threw innocent reporters as sacrifices to Chae Jung-hyun’s questioning. There was no way he could reveal to the middle-aged man on the other end of the phone that Jang Ha-yeon was an illegitimate child, was there? Jang Ho-gun also sharpened his blade because he was frustrated with being on the receiving end.

“And it’s only 100,000 shares, Chairman. Why are you raising your voice about such a thing from the morning?”

[Chairman Jang, still…]

“Still what? Isn’t it cheaper for my daughter to pocket some pocket money than for Shinseong Group to step in?”

It was an undeniable fact that the acquisition price of Korea Mobile Telecom would rise if Shinseong Group stepped in now. That’s why Chae Jung-hyun’s voice flowed out of the receiver without a gap.

[I’m sorry, Chairman Jang. I made a mistake because I was dealing with Chairman Lee of Samcheong-dong in addition to Chairman Jang.]

“Chairman Lee Dae-soo is a master at making money. Why are you being so surprised now?”

Disgusting old man.

Jang Ho-gun couldn’t say it, but he scoffed at Lee Dae-soo, wondering if he had interfered with his business for a mere pittance. But…

[The problem is that it’s not that old man who stepped in directly, but his eldest grandson who stepped in alone. This is a problem.]

Jang Ho-gun doubted his ears. The Lee Sung-min he knew wasn’t interested in stocks?

“What do you mean, Chairman Chae?”

[That’s…]

Jang Ho-gun blinked or opened his mouth throughout Chae Jung-hyun’s story. It was fortunate that he was alone; otherwise, he would have been called a madman.

“I didn’t know such a thing would happen. Please keep that a secret. It shouldn’t interfere with our daughter’s marriage. Yes, let’s go for a round when the weather warms up.”

Jang Ho-gun put down the receiver and took out an envelope from the drawer.

He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes, fiddling with the envelope that had the fingerprints of the dead Lee Myung-woo and himself, one each.

“It would be nice if it works out…”

Jang Ho-gun looked at the envelope. His face was a mixture of expectation and regret.

If what he had just heard on the phone was that Lee Sung-min and Jang Ha-yeon had planned it, this envelope containing the promise with his friend to marry the two children would not be necessary.

But he also knew very well that Lee Dae-soo would not let that promise be fulfilled.

It was a non-legally binding prenuptial agreement, but wasn’t Lee Dae-soo the one who was backstabbed by his father, Jang Byung-ho, about 20 years ago?

That’s why Jang Ho-gun, who was left alone, felt particularly heavy on his shoulders today.

He put in the envelope, picked up the receiver, and pressed a new number.

“It’s me, Ha-yeon. Shall we have a cup of coffee outside?”

***

Arriving at the meeting place, Jang Ha-yeon swallowed hard and waited for her father. He was always in Sunguiwon’s office during business hours except for special appointments, so she was even biting her lips because he asked to see her outside.

Jang Ha-yeon saw Jang Ho-gun opening the door and entering, and she stood up from her seat.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, Father. Welcome.”

The two sat down and drank the coffee they had ordered. A strange tension was flowing between the two who were quietly drinking coffee.

“I’m sorry, you must be busy at the end of the year.”

“No, Father. There’s no banquet today, so it’s okay.”

Jang Ho-gun smiled at his daughter and put down his teacup.

“I’m glad that our daughter is doing well these days. Chairman Chae of Saekyung Group asked me to dump your stock, but I refused. Our daughter needs to prepare her household funds.”

“Chairman Chae of Saekyung Group?”

Jang Ha-yeon blinked as she looked at her father, who was laughing heartily. The chairman of Saekyung Group called because of the stock?

“Yes. Sung-min has 410,000 shares, so he seems to be very sensitive. It’s too bizarre to be a coincidence.”

“…I see.”

Jang Ha-yeon nodded, pretending to be surprised for a moment. If she looked at her father’s eyes any longer, she wouldn’t be able to keep her promise with Lee Sung-min.

***

I came home, plopped down on the sofa, and sighed.

“That was close. If Uncle had known, Grandfather would have known too…”

“It’s a relief that the Chief didn’t ask any further.”

I was still feeling nauseous after trying to avoid Go Seung-ju’s questioning. I wanted to grab the writers who wrote that secret love was thrilling by the collar and shake them, shouting, “You try it!”

I went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water to calm myself down, and I heard the phone ringing and walked to the living room.

“Who’s calling?”

“It’s Miss Ha-yeon, *doryeonnim* (young master).”

Both our families seem to have too much love for their children. Damn it.